Leeds’ rapidly expanding build-to-rent market is set for another major boost after Winvic Construction secured a £130m contract to deliver two landmark residential towers close to the city centre. The scheme, which has recently cleared the Building Safety Regulator’s Gateway 2 approval process, will provide 578 professionally managed rental apartments on the former International Swimming Pool site, further strengthening Leeds’ position as one of the UK’s most active regional residential development markets. Winvic has been appointed by Lisbon Street Developments, a joint venture between Marrico Asset Management and Helios Real Estate, to deliver the project, with construction expected to commence during the fourth quarter of this year. The development will comprise two residential towers rising 33 and 22 storeys above a shared podium and basement structure. Alongside the new homes, residents will benefit from a range of amenities including roof terraces, balconies, communal facilities and commercial space designed to enhance the vibrancy of the wider neighbourhood. The project forms part of the ongoing regeneration of a strategically important city centre site that is being transformed into a thriving mixed-use destination. Winvic is already familiar with the location, having completed a 548-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme there just six months ago. The build-to-rent development represents the third major phase of investment on the site, following the student accommodation project and an aparthotel currently under construction. Sustainability has been placed at the heart of the design, with the scheme targeting a Home Quality Mark 3.5-star rating. Environmental features will include photovoltaic solar panels, decentralised air source heat pumps and enhanced building fabric designed to reduce operational energy consumption and improve long-term performance. Mark Jones, Managing Director for Multi-Room at Winvic, said the project would deliver high-quality homes in a thriving city centre location while contributing to Leeds’ continued growth and regeneration. The latest investment reflects growing confidence in Leeds’ residential market, where demand for high-quality rental accommodation continues to rise. With strong employment growth, significant inward investment and a thriving city centre economy, Leeds is increasingly attracting institutional investment and large-scale residential development, helping to reshape the city’s skyline and support its long-term growth ambitions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bellway has completed a deal to buy two additional land parcels at Linmere in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, with plans to build 236 more homes in the new neighbourhood. The housebuilder has already built 307 homes across two developments within Phase 1 of the project, and has submitted detailed plans for a further 161 homes within Phase 3. The new land parcels are within Phase 4 of Linmere and are covered by the outline planning permission in place for the wider project. Bellway will now finalise its detailed plans for submission to Central Bedfordshire Council, which will bring the total number of homes it is delivering as part of the scheme to more than 700. Neil Grainger, Land Director for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “We have been part of the Linmere project since the start, and this latest land acquisition confirms our commitment to the delivery of high-quality housing in Houghton Regis. “We have completed over 300 homes to date within Phase 1, and are now looking forward to starting work on homes within Phase 3 subject to detailed planning consent. “Linmere is already becoming a well-established community, thanks to the focus on placemaking and provision of new facilities at an early stage within the neighbourhood. “Primary and secondary-age children are already benefitting from modern new school buildings, while the Farmstead community hub and Lidl supermarket put day-to-day amenities within walking distance for residents and provide a focal point for the community. “Linmere also features extensive areas of attractive open space with trees, footpaths and cycleways, enabling people to spend leisure time outdoors, which is so important for health and wellbeing.” Outline planning permission for Linmere was granted in 2014 and covers a development of up to 5,150 homes, a mixed-use local centre, schools, community facilities and public open space. Bellway received detailed planning permission for 153 homes at Bellway at Linmere, off Sundon Road, in 2020, while plans for a further 154 homes at Linmere Gateway, off Waterslade Way, were approved in 2021. The final homes here are now available to reserve. Detailed plans for Linmere Mews, in Phase 3 off Woodside Link Road, were submitted in August last year. This part of the project has been planned to comprise 161 houses and apartments, including 137 two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses for private sale, and 24 affordable one to four-bedroom homes for low-cost rent or shared ownership. For more information about Bellway’s homes at Linmere, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/linmere-gateway  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has launched sales at Duke’s Row, a £12.6m GDV boutique scheme in Camden, central London.  Named after the Duke of Bedford who created the square on which the scheme is located, Duke’s Row is Salboy’s fourth design-led boutique London scheme since 2022. Construction is already well underway and the scheme is scheduled to complete on time and on budget by August 2027.  Duke’s Row will be a six-storey building made up of 10 one/two/three-bed apartments as well as a three-bedroom penthouse. Property sizes range from 52 sqm to 135 sqm. All of the apartments come with private terraces or balconies, and the penthouse benefits from a 75sqm, west-facing wraparound terrace.  Duke’s Row was designed by Studio Power, one of Salboy’s long-term architectural partners, whose attention to design detail complements the scheme’s position within the Camden Town Conservation Area as well as the architectural history of the adjacent Harrington Square Gardens which were laid out in the 1840s.   The scheme will bear all the hallmarks of Salboy’s high quality finish. A brick and cast stone façade will give the building a historically sensitive yet contemporary look, complete with arched openings at ground level. Internally engineered timber flooring, quartz worktops, brushed brass ironmongery and expansive glazing feel refined and considered, while rooftop solar panels, air source heat pumps and a likely ‘B’ band EPC ensure that the building fully adheres to modern design and engineering expectations.  Duke’s Row is located in the heart of north London’s busy Camden Town neighbourhood, popular with young professionals and young families who want close proximity to the city centre. A lively shopping, entertainment and restaurant scene is available on the residents’ doorstep; Regent’s Park can be reached on foot in 18 minutes, and King’s Cross’ regeneration scheme Coal Drops Yard (home to the new Google HQ) is only 20 minutes away on foot or less than 10 minutes by bike. The scheme is also a two-minute walk from Mornington Crescent underground station with fast links into central London, the City, Canary Wharf and Heathrow.  Salboy is developing Duke’s Row in partnership with Forge Homes, an experienced boutique residential developer operating across London, Essex and Kent. Established in 2022, Forge Homes has built a track record delivering carefully designed small-scale residential schemes, including completed and live developments in Rochford, Walderslade, Orsett, Wanstead and Camden. Forge Homes partnered with Salboy to optimise and diversify its offer by entering the higher-value central London residential market. Duke’s Row is one of Salboy Capital’s active partnership-led development sites, delivered as part of a national platform supporting developers across the UK. It is also one of two Salboy residential schemes currently under construction within a 10-mile radius of central London, alongside Old York Mews in Wandsworth. Simon Ismail, Co-Founder & MD of Salboy, comments: “Developing a scheme in central London comes with many complexities such as planning, site accessibility, and the premium cost of labour and materials. For many smaller-scale developers these challenges have proven time and again to be prohibitive. Joining the Salboy community as a joint venture partner opens up access for these developers to economies of scale that bring down costs, as well as over 12 years’ planning, cost and project management expertise, enabling them to bring their central London ambitions to life. We’re delighted to be bringing forward this scheme in Camden with Forge Homes, another Salboy footprint on prime London living. Duke’s Row blends our standards for high quality finishes with Forge Homes’ dedication to craftsmanship. We look forward to seeing the results and welcoming buyers to make their homes there.” Dan Harvey & Harry Bushrod, at Forge Homes, add: “Duke’s Row is exactly the type of scheme where detail matters. Camden is a highly sensitive location, so every decision, from the brick and cast stone façade to the internal specification and the way the building responds to Harrington Square, has had to be carefully considered. Our approach has been hands-on throughout because boutique residential schemes depend on close control of quality, workmanship and delivery. Working with Salboy has allowed us to bring that approach into a central London setting, supported by the funding, experience and market reach needed to do the site justice.” Sales of the properties are being led by Salboy’s own sales team. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Woodgate, the award-winning 619-home development delivered through a joint venture between Thakeham and Abri, is now fully sold. Thakeham, one of the leading housebuilders in the south of England, has completed on the sale of the final private home at its flagship development in Pease Pottage, West Sussex. Delivered in partnership, Woodgate brings together a mix of private and affordable homes, with Thakeham leading on private sale and Abri providing a significant number of affordable homes to support local housing need. As well as the high-quality homes, the scheme features St Catherine’s Hospice and a community café run by JO.CO on its behalf, with all profits going towards the charity’s vital services. Other amenities at Woodgate include a community shop managed and operated by local residents with support from charity Plunkett UK and a state-of-the-art primary school. A large village green is at the heart of the development, while play areas, trails, pathways and cycle routes linking to the neighbouring 370-acre Tilgate Forest are spread throughout. Of the 619 homes at Woodgate, 186 are affordable, which is a 30% provision in line with local planning policy. This comes at a time of sustained demand for social housing locally, with more than 2,000 households currently on the Mid Sussex housing register, highlighting the continued pressure on the supply of affordable homes in the area. “The first new homes were completed in 2020 and the community at Woodgate is already thriving – you can feel a real buzz when you walk around. The residents of our private and affordable homes have created something special, and people are visiting Woodgate from the surrounding areas to use the facilities and soak in the atmosphere,” said Thakeham Sales Director, Emma Chamberlain. “The completion on this final home is a real milestone for us, and the former sales pavilion will soon be ready to hand over to the community to further ingrain the unique sense of community at this exceptional development.” Sally Ingham, Development Director at Abri said: “Woodgate shows what can be achieved when partners share a long-term vision for both homes and place. Working with Thakeham, we’ve helped create a thriving community with high-quality homes and facilities alongside green spaces that will continue to benefit everyone for years to come. Developments like this also support Abri’s wider investment strategy to deliver 20,000 new homes by 2036, helping to address the growing demand for affordable housing across our communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bellway has started groundworks on a project which will bring 93 new homes to Wilmington, including apartments within historic Kingsfield House. The new development, called Cedarcroft, will be located on the western part of the North Kent College campus, off Oakfield Lane. Bellway is renovating Kingsfield House and The Lodge to create 28 converted homes as part of the project. The demolition of the other buildings on the site, which were no longer needed by the college, has now been completed and groundworks are underway to prepare for the construction of 65 new-build houses and apartments. The development is due to open this autumn when the first homes will be released for sale. Ed Brading, Acting Head of Sales for Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “Cedarcroft is set to transform this part of the North Kent College campus into an attractive new residential community for Dartford, set within nearly five acres of green open space including a number of beautiful mature cedar trees which give the development its name. “The main part of Kingsfield House is being retained and restored to become a landmark feature within the new neighbourhood, and we have now completed the demolition of the unattractive modern extensions which previously detracted from the building’s appearance. “With groundworks underway, we are looking forward to starting construction of the 65 new-build homes on the site – comprising 37 three, four and five-bedroom houses for private sale and 28 houses and apartments available as affordable housing for local people. These will be highly energy-efficient homes, with solar PV panels and air source heat pumps to reduce carbon emissions and electric vehicle charging points to promote greener travel. “We are also converting Kingsfield House into 27 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and The Lodge into an attractive and unique three-bedroom house, preserving these two historically significant buildings while providing a further 28 homes for private sale. “Our development will start a new chapter for this landmark site in Wilmington and we are looking forward to welcoming the first visitors to the development when it opens later this year.” Kingsfield House was built in 1859 for stockbroker Edward Satterthwaite before being sold to social pioneer Madame Martina Bergman-Osterberg in 1895. She set up a physical training college at the site specialising in gymnastics for girls and young women and is credited with inventing the modern game of netball at the location. Her life is commemorated by two blue English Heritage plaques – one of which is at Kingsfield House. The college continued to expand following Madame Osterberg’s death in 1915 and was renamed several times, most recently to North Kent College in 2015. Kingsfield House has been vacant since 2022 and had fallen into a state of disrepair. Its conversion into residential use will ensure its long-term future, while the sale of the land, which is no longer needed by the college, has provided additional funding for education resources. For more information about the new homes at Cedarcroft, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway/cedarcroft. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A striking new residential tower could soon reshape Manchester’s skyline after proposals were unveiled for a major city centre development that would bring nearly 600 new homes to one of the area’s last remaining vacant brownfield sites. Developer Allied London has revealed plans for One Castlefield, a landmark scheme that would deliver 593 apartments across two new buildings in the Castlefield district. The proposals form part of the wider St George’s regeneration masterplan and would complete the final undeveloped parcel within the long-established vision for the area. The development is being brought forward on behalf of investor Chatha Capital and is currently undergoing public consultation ahead of the submission of a formal planning application to Manchester City Council later this year. Designed by internationally recognised architects Denton Corker Marshall, the scheme comprises a 46-storey residential tower alongside an adjoining eight-storey building on Ellesmere Street. Together, the two structures would replace a previously approved project that failed to progress following the collapse of an earlier development proposal. The site has remained vacant since demolition works were completed after plans for a £75m residential scheme stalled several years ago. Allied London’s latest proposals aim to revitalise the location while making more efficient use of the city centre site. The revised plans significantly increase the residential offering, with the number of homes rising by more than 40% compared with the previous consented scheme. The proposed tower would accommodate 436 apartments, while the adjoining lower-rise building would provide a further 157 homes. The development would predominantly comprise one and two-bedroom apartments aimed at meeting growing demand for city centre living. However, a number of larger three and four-bedroom homes have also been incorporated into the proposals, supporting greater housing diversity within the scheme. Gary Mather, Development Director at Allied London, said One Castlefield presents an opportunity to bring a long-vacant brownfield site back into productive use while completing a key element of the wider regeneration vision for the area. If approved, the development would mark another significant milestone in Manchester’s continued growth, delivering new homes while reinforcing the city’s reputation as one of the UK’s most active urban regeneration markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Taylor Wimpey East Anglia has announced that it will bring 272 new homes to Alconbury Weald, just north of Huntingdon, after receiving planning approval. The new homes will be situated close to Alconbury Weald’s Runway Park, the former runway of RAF Alconbury, which will be a central part of the wider open space at Alconbury Weald. Taylor Wimpey’s new homes will provide a mix of one to five-bedroom homes including houses, apartments and townhouses. More than 12% of homes will be designated to affordable housing, including affordable rent and shared ownership.  Taylor Wimpey’s planning application was approved by Huntingdonshire District Council in May 2026, with works due to commence in late summer 2026 and the first homes set to go on sale in March 2027. They will form part of the wider Alconbury Weald masterplan, which is set to deliver up to 6,500 homes, local employment, education and community facilities. Andrew Wright, Acting Technical and Planning Director at Taylor Wimpey East Anglia, said:“We’re pleased to have received planning approval for our new homes at Alconbury Weald. The development already has a thriving community of new homes, open green space and community facilities that we’re proud to become a part of. Not only will we be building 272 new homes at Alconbury Weald, but we will also be contributing to the 700 acres of open space with our own pocket park.  “We look forward to work commencing shortly and seeing the Alconbury Weald community continue to grow.”  Mike Jenner, Development Manager for Alconbury Weald master developer Urban&Civic, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Taylor Wimpey to Alconbury Weald. These will be their first homes here, further expanding the choice and diversity of homes available to those looking to join the Alconbury Weald community. Alongside new homes, Phase 3 will deliver a range of key amenities including a health centre, community centre and library, shops and services, a sports hub and the future Runway Park, supporting the continued growth of Alconbury Weald as a vibrant and well-connected place to live.” For further information and to register your interest in the new homes at Alconbury Weald, please visit: https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/new-homes/cambridgeshire or https://www.alconbury-weald.co.uk/  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Build-to-rent operator Quintain Living is preparing for its next phase of growth after unveiling plans to expand into third-party management, with ambitions to significantly increase the number of homes under its operational platform. The Wembley Park landlord intends to work with institutional investors, developers and asset owners by offering access to the technology, systems and expertise it has developed over the past decade operating one of the UK’s largest professionally managed rental communities. According to the company, the move has the potential to more than double the size of Quintain Living’s existing platform over the medium term, positioning the business as a major player in the growing operational management market within the build-to-rent sector. Quintain Living currently manages more than 3,500 homes across Wembley Park and has developed an integrated operating model centred around technology, resident experience and hospitality-led service delivery. The company has invested heavily in its digital infrastructure, including bespoke systems designed to streamline the resident journey from initial enquiry through to long-term occupation. These include digital viewing technology, online leasing platforms and a dedicated resident app enabling tenants to make payments, submit maintenance requests and engage with community activities. Supporting its operational approach is a proprietary utility-monitoring system that tracks energy and water consumption in individual homes at 15-minute intervals. The data allows teams to identify unusual patterns, improve efficiency and proactively address maintenance concerns before they escalate. Alongside technological innovation, Quintain Living has focused on creating a hospitality-inspired rental experience, supported by on-site concierge teams, maintenance professionals and community managers dedicated to enhancing resident wellbeing and satisfaction. The announcement coincides with Quintain Living’s tenth anniversary at Wembley Park. Since launching in 2016 with a team of just seven employees, the business has expanded to more than 100 staff members and now manages a monthly rental portfolio exceeding £7.5m. Having delivered more than 4,300 purpose-built rental homes to date, with a further 2,700 in the pipeline, Quintain believes its operational expertise can now be successfully applied beyond Wembley Park. The move reflects a wider trend within the build-to-rent sector, where professional management, customer experience and technology-driven operations are increasingly viewed as critical factors in attracting residents, improving retention and delivering long-term value for investors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has signed contracts with Housing Plus Group to deliver 398 affordable homes at the former Rugeley Power Station site, after receiving planning permission to start work on the first 547 homes, the spine road, and associated public open space on the 139-hectare development. The brownfield site, once home to a coal-fired power station that closed in 2016, has already undergone demolition and remediation works. The planning consent paves the way for delivery of the new neighbourhood, including around 2,000 homes in a mix of tenures including affordable homes, private rented sector homes (PRS) and homes for sale on the open market, alongside an all-through school, a riverside park and space for commercial use. Michael Moore, Managing Director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “Our partnership with Housing Plus Group to deliver 398 affordable homes is a major step forward for the regeneration of the former Rugeley Power Station site. Alongside securing planning permission for the first phase, it means we can now move ahead with confidence and begin creating a high-quality new community for Rugeley. Like many areas of the UK, the town has a severe shortage of housing, and this development will help address that need by delivering affordable and social rent homes, as well as PRS and open market homes, at pace.” David Hall, Executive Director of Investment and Growth at Housing Plus Group said: “Delivering almost 400 new affordable homes marks a key moment in our partnership with Vistry and in the delivery of our development programme as we continue to create places people are proud to call home. This exciting strategic site is a key element of growing our provision of high-quality affordable homes. As a place-based leader, we are committed to delivering for our customers and communities in Staffordshire.” Work is expected to start on the 547 dwellings, spine road and associated public open space and sustainable drainage measures over the coming weeks. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals